SECOND QO*Y, 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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A BRIEF 

INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY 

OF THE 

History of the Ancient and 
Primitive Rite of Memphis 

INCLUDING EXCERPTS FROM THE 
HISTORICAL LANDMARKS OF THE ORDER, ETC. 



/ °* 

J. ADELPHI GOTTLIEB, M.A., M.D., LL.D. 

Decorated with the Grand Star of Sirius ; Order of the Alidee ; Cross of 

the Grand Commanders of the Three Legions of Knights of Masonry \ 

Etc. ; Sovereign Grand Conservator-General, A. P. R. M. Q5°.'. >' 

Legate of the M. I. Grand Master-General and Sovereign 

Sanctuary of the Rite of Memphis to Foreign Countries ; 

Sovereign Grand Inspector-General 33°.'. and Last 

Degree, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Etc. 



" History, is philosophy teaching by examples.' 



CO-OPERATIVE PUBLISHING ALLIANCE 
NEW YORK : : MDCCCXCIX 



v^ 






29980 

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1899, by 

Dr. J. ADELPHI GOTTLIEB 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C, U. S. A. 

All rights reserved 



(( 



TROW DIRECTORY 

PRINTING AND BOOKBINDING COMPANY 

NEW YORK 






PREFACE. 

It is to be deeply regretted that in this en- 
lightened period some narrow-minded people 
are to be found who cannot look at Masonry 
in a liberal light and appreciate the good the 
various rites do to mankind. Therefore the 
necessity of compiling this work — to place 
the Masonic Order of the Ancient and Primi- 
tive Rite of Memphis before the Masonic 
World in a proper and truthful light. 

Strange, but true, most Masonic authors are 
partial to some one or other special governing 
body of the Rite of which they are members, 
whose doings they extol; forgetting the fact 
that they are historians and that what they 
place on record should only be the pure and 
authentic history of the Rite, no matter to 
what governing body they may owe alle- 
giance. But more deplorable still is that 
much of the available masonic literature has 
been written by individuals who were not 
even members of the Rite whose histories 
and origin they attempt to record. 

Time is too valuable in the " push and hus- 
5 



tie " of the Twentieth Century for individual 
members of the fraternity to make researches 
into the antiquity, history, and beauties of 
Masonry. Fearing that this valuable collective 
information may become forever lost and for- 
gotten, the following summary is briefly re- 
corded for the information of the Craft, 

"Errors like straws, upon the surface flow, 
He who would search for pearls, must dive below." 



304 West One Hundred and Fourth Street, 
New York, March, 1899. 



CONTENTS 

M. I. Sov. Grand Master General's Letter 

Frontispiece 

PAGE 

Preface 5 

Introductory, Object, Qualification and 

Purpose 9 

General History — Origin . . . .11 

Present History and Status of the Rite 25 

Institution of the A. P. R. M. on the 

Continent of America . . .26 

Historical Landmarks . . . -30 

Manifesto — Withdrawal of the A. P. R. 

M. from the Orient of France . . 34 

International Treaty — Articles of Con- 
federation 37 

Degrees of the Masonic Rite of Memphis 42 

Masonic Calendar 44 

"A Masonic Duty." By M. A. Gottlieb 47 



♦ii*tto mapm &r&$ i®m 



INTRODUCTORY. 



The Masonic Rite of Memphis is a religion 
that taught the men of the first ages to render 
homage to the Divinity. It has for its basis 
the existence of a God, as well as the immor- 
tality of the Soul. And for its object it re- 
quires the exercise of benevolence; the immor- 
tal moral derived from the study of science and 
art; also the practice of all the virtues. It is 
the bond that unites mankind; the symbol of 
the sweet illusions of hope, that teaches Faith 
in God who redeemeth, and of Charity that 
blesseth. 

The Ancient and Primitive Rite of Mem- 
phis is universal, and is open to every Master 
Mason who is in good standing under some 
constitutional Grand Lodge and believes in 
the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood 
of man. The only other qualification which it 
requires of its Neophyte is probity and honor, 
and it esteems Masonic worth, ability, and 
learning above social and personal distinctions. 
Seeking by means of its comprehensive cere- 
monials to extend Masonic knowledge, Moral- 
9 



ity and Justice, and to enforce all those great 
principles which distinguish true Masons at 
all times. 

The rituals are based upon those of the craft 
universal; they explain its symbols, develop 
its mystic philosophy, exemplify its morality, 
examine its legends, tracing them to their 
primitive source, and dealing fairly and truth- 
fully with the historical features of symbolical 
Masonry; they contain nothing in their teach- 
ing but what Mahommedan, Christian, Jew, 
Buddhist, Brahmin, or Parsee may alike ac- 
knowledge. Strictly unsectarian, it offers an 
intellectual treat of the highest order to the 
Masonic inquirer, whether he be a literal stu- 
dent of Masonic history or a philosophical 
seeker of abstruse truth. It forms a pyramid 
whose base is that universal craft Masonry, 
which has covered the Globe, its time-worn 
ascents are the Masonic virtues, its apex the 
seat of eternal truth. 




GENERAL HISTORY. 

The cradle of Masonry is placed by most 
judicious historians in that country which was 
first inhabited, namely, the plateau of Tartary, 
and it is said that it was transmitted to us by 
the sages of India, Persia, Ethiopia, and 
Egypt. To ancient Egypt we are indebted 
for Religion and Masonry. 

It is known that at Memphis, Egypt, under 
the guidance of the King, the high degrees of 
Masonry were worked two thousand one hun- 
dred years before the Christian era ! Previous 
to the seventeenth century A.D. all Masonic 
work to be legally conducted had to be au- 
thorized by a King or Priest. Proof of its 
antiquity has been handed down from age to 
age by the grand monuments, temples, etc., 
on which are the records left to us by the an- 
cients; and to this day the museums of the 
world treasure specimens of stone, metal, 
papyrus, and gems, as bold and living proof of 
our knowledge of the early history of man and 



his surroundings; even to this day ruins are 
unearthed in the Old World on which are pict- 
ured the figures and characters of ancient 
gods and dignitaries, etc., in peculiar attitudes, 
which bear convincing truths of their pur- 
pose. 

The Priests of all religions were men of keen 
insight and forethought — they preferred to 
ride in safety on the topmost crest of popular 
feeling rather than be overwhelmed and de- 
stroyed by it; they therefore taught the people 
such tenets as they knew would suit their vul- 
gar prejudices and love of the marvellous; 
invented legends, made sacrifices, reared idols, 
taught in parables, built splendid Temples, and 
manufactured miracles by the hundred. This 
was tangible and satisfactory to the masses, 
but in all this apparent mummery there was an 
inner meaning, known only to the initiated. 
To them these things were but allegories and 
symbols, conveying lessons of morality and 
philosophy too far advanced for the popular 
mind to grasp and understand, for it is far 
easier to blindly believe than to reason and 
digest. 

Can anyone conceive it possible that the 
great intellects of Greece and Rome, the Sages, 
Statesmen, and Poets of these countries actu- 
ally credited the personal existence of its 



13 

deities in their mythology? Impossible. To 
the common people they were indeed gods and 
goddesses; but to the initiated they were only 
types of various .passions, qualities, and sea- 
sons. 

Aided by this age of reason and understand- 
ing, we cannot but admire and respect the 
pure and primitive philosophy, the soundness 
and accuracy of their instructions. They re- 
veal to us a religion consonant with the laws 
of Nature, inculcating a doctrine simple in 
truthfulness, and beneficent through its uni- 
versality. 

In immeasurable antiquity, according to 
Indian monuments, the sages sought for light 
on the banks of the Ganges and in the beauti- 
ful countries of Hindostan. They, like we, 
gave worship to truth; they propagated this 
worship without pomp. Their doctrines were 
simple, and freed from every sort of supersti- 
tion. They adored the eternal God, creator of 
all worlds, who guarded his work, and caused 
reproduction to spring from destruction. This 
simple theology of the Brahmins, whom the 
Greeks called Gymnosophists, was changed by 
the ridiculous fables and superstitious practices 
of the wild sectarians of Wichnou, who, from 
the North, made a bloody invasion into this 
peaceful country. It spread itself through 



14 

Persia, taken up by Zoroaster, cultivated by 
the Magi, it altered as everything in this world 
alters; it was brought back to its primitive 
simplicity by a second Zoroaster; having still 
faithful disciples in India ; Ethiopia, whose in- 
habitants received the Brahmins and their doc- 
trines; they assembled on the island of Meroe, 
and made free and happy the countries they 
governed. Followed by a throng of his com- 
patriots, Osiris came down from the moun- 
tains of Ethiopia, and by a most glorious 
conquest rendered barbarian Egypt subservi- 
ent to his laws, giving it the precious gifts of 
civilization. These benefactors of the human 
race thought that it was impossible to impart 
pure light to uncultivated nations; they there- 
fore disguised the Truth under emblems which 
the multitude took literally, and which had its 
worshippers in the Temples of Sais, of Thebes, 
of Heliopolis, and in magnificent Memphis. 
From this sprang two religions, as in China, 
in Greece, and in ancient Rome, as among all 
enlightened people of the modern world; a 
religion of the multitude, which only applies 
to exterior visible objects, and a religion of 
lettered people, who contemn these objects or 
only regard them as allegorical symbols under 
whose veil are hidden moral truths or great 
effects of nature. 



J 5 

Immediately upon leaving this school, Or- 
pheus established the mysteries of Samothrace, 
consecrated to the " Cabires," and which were 
carried abroad among many people. Tryptole- 
mus and Eumolope gave laws to Greece, 
spread abroad the benefits to be received from 
agriculture, and laid the foundation of the 
Temple of Eleusis ; Abaris carried the Light 
into the North. The Mysteries of Memphis 
were instituted everywhere, even to the ice- 
bound plains of Scythia. 

Every city in Egypt had its own peculiar 
symbol. The eloquent Memphis adopted the 
magpie, the chattering bird, for its symbol. 
Thebes, which raised its thoughts up to 
heaven, decorated its banner with the eagle 
with eyes of fire. Canapa chose a censer (an 
urn wherein incense burned), as if to render 
homage to the divinity. The Sphynx, seated 
at the threshold of the Temples, was the em- 
blem of the sages who watched over Egypt. 

The sages, prepared in Heliopolis for the 
solemn mysteries of Memphis and Thebes, 
kept watch over the divine fire. 

The sacred fire of Masonry burned there dur- 
ing a thousand years without any culpable 
attempt to lessen it or to extinguish it, and 
the archives of this mystic Temple reckon 
among the children of Memphis: Orpheus, 



i6 

Homer, Pythagoras, Thales, Virgil, Hippoc- 
rates, Socrates, Plato, and a vast number of 
other philosophers of Greece, that intellectual 
daughter of Egypt. 

During the time when, on the banks of the 
Nile, the august depositaries of these tradi- 
tions veiled them from the eyes of their con- 
temporaries, and only revealed them to the 
small number of those whom they considered 
worthy of the initiation, other adepts, in the 
interior of Africa, drew together colonies of 
barbarians, polished their manners, propagated 
science; in fact, founded our sacred mysteries 
in the burning sands of Nubia and Ethiopia. 

Meroe, for his part, instructed the Gymnoso- 
phists on the banks of the Ganges; Zoroaster 
founded the school of the Magi in Persia and 
Media. In fine, this sublime institution ex- 
tended from the plains of Memphis to the 
palace of the wise David. This illustrious 
Mason, when dying, commanded his son Solo- 
mon to raise a magnificent Temple as a tes- 
timonial of his thankfulness to the Sublime 
Architect of all worlds. 

Hiram, at this time, was enlightening Tyre 
— Boaz, Jerusalem. The young Solomon be- 
sought their co-operation, and, according to 
their advice, went to Memphis, where he was 
initiated into the sublime mysteries. Here it 



*7 

was that the Hierophant preserved in the sanc- 
tuary of the patriarchs the chef d'ceuvre of 
Enoch, that precious Delta which Menes 
transported from Ethiopia to the bank of 
the Nile. 

After Solomon was initiated, the Hierophant "*) 
becoming acquainted with his vast project, and 
filled with belief in the neophyte, handed over 
to him this sacred symbol of the patriarch 
Enoch; the prophetic books of Hermes made 
it a duty to do so. 

Soon more than a hundred thousand breth- 
ren assembled in Jerusalem and built work- 
shops, so as to work for the glory of the Sub- 
lime Architect of all worlds. 

The work on the Temple was pushed with 
so much order and vigor that on the third day 
of the fifth month of the seventh year the dedi- 
cation was celebrated with truly royal pomp. 
Solomon himself placed the Delta in the Sanc- 
tuary, and during seven times nine days a 
thousand joyous shouts celebrated the inaugu- 
ration of this new monument, this most mag- 
nificent masterpiece of architecture that men 
had ever built. The people were admitted to 
visit the holy place where the majesty of the 
Sublime Architect shone forth with all its 
brilliancy, and the sonorous arches resounded 
with thousands of acclamations, and with 



i8 

three-times-three blows struck by a thousand 
mallets. 

Solomon went in peace to his grave, having 
enjoyed through a long lapse of years a happi- 
ness without equal. From the day in which 
Solomon, inspired, built that Temple to the 
glory of the Sublime Architect of the universe, 
from the Nile to the Jordan the science of 
Masonry stretched out its beneficial rays; the 
people united, rejoiced in the sweetness of fra- 
ternity most cordial; the sacred fire shone forth 
in Chaldea, its pacific torch enlightened the 
whole of Judea; in fact, peace ruled over the 
whole Orient, when the infamous Cambyses, 
already bespotted with crime, carried sword 
and fire into Egypt, and made of it a theatre of 
death and devastation. 

In this frightful overturning, civilization all 
at once stopped, Freemasonry in its turn slept. 
The Saracens, after the first brutalities of con- 
quest were over, softened their manner, gave 
themselves up to study, and rendered their rule 
to the subdued countries less severe. Mason- 
ry, if not protected by them, was at least tol- 
erated. They allowed the patriarchs to hide 
the depository of our doctrines on the banks 
of the Nile, or in the rocks of Palestine. This 
concession on their part was so much the 
greater from the fact that the essentially pro- 



19 

gressive spirit of Freemasonry was totally op- 
posed to the Moslem fatalism. 

During the whole period of the Middle 
Ages, which embraces many centuries, our 
venerable institution gave no sign of vitality, 
but sprang to life after the Crusades, which 
had so marked an effect on the development 
of light and social well-being. 

The introduction of our Rite into Europe is 
due to the Crusades. Despite their poor suc- 
cess, the East to our heroic warriors remained 
for a long time the country of religion and 
glory; unceasingly they turned their eyes to- 
ward that beautiful Sun, toward those palms of 
Idumea, those plains of Rama where the In- 
fidels reposed under the shade of the olive tree, 
toward the fields of Ascalon which still re- 
tained the marks of Godfrey Bouillon, of Tan- 
cred, of Philip Augustus, and of Courcey, etc. ; 
toward that Jerusalem, delivered for a moment, 
then relapsed into bondage, which showed it- 
self to them as to Jeremiah, seated in solitude, 
drowned in its own tears, shorn of its people, 
and its Temple destroyed. 

Five times in the space of two centuries the 
West precipitated itself on Moslem Asia, and 
this gigantic struggle, which cost humanity 
rivers of blood, is rich in its results, among the 
most precious of which is the introduction of 



Masonry into Europe. It was by these valiant 
warriors who returned from the Holy Land 
the banners of the Fraternity were brought; it 
was from the celebrated river which saw on its 
banks the divine Osiris, the harmonious Or- 
pheus, and the great Sesostris; it was from this 
sacred point, from this pure centre of the 
starry vault ; it was from the court of the Tem- 
ple of David that the brave men of the Middle 
Ages caught a glimpse of our mysteries, 
even up to the door of the Middle Temple ; 
this door of brass led to the Sanctuary, but 
it was necessary to stop at the foot of the 
double column which borders on the Pro- 
naos ; by aid of a word, a sign, then pene- 
trate further on, receive their reward, and 
at eventide return into the sombre nook 
there to groan at the apparent death of 
nature. 

The Masonic Order of Memphis is, there- 
fore, the sole depository of high Masonic sci- 
ence, the true ancient and primitive rite, that 
which has come down to us without any altera- 
tion, and consequently the rite that justifies 
its origin with a constant exercise of its rights 
by constitutions whose authenticity it is im- 
possible to call into question. In fact, the Rite 
of Memphis is the true Masonic tree, and all 
other systems, whatever they may be, are only 



detached branches of this institution, rendered 
respectable by its vast antiquity. 

The mysteries were divided into two classes, 
the smaller and the greater. The smaller had 
for its object the instruction of the initiated 
in the humane sciences; the sacred doctrine 
was reserved for the last degree of the initia- 
tion — this was what they called the great mani- 
festation of Light. 

Between the knowledge of humane science 
and that of divine doctrine there were symboli- 
cal degrees that had to be gone through. All 
the mysteries turned on three principal points, 
the Moral, the Exact Science, and the Sacred 
Doctrine. From the first they passed to the 
second without intermediary; but once arrived 
at the second degree long preparations were 
necessary — this was the object to be attained 
by three other degrees; the first ended and 
completed the smaller mysteries, the other two 
opened the greater. 

It was not till the first symbolic degree, the 
third of the initiation, that the fables were ex- 
posed, and in the following, the two other de- 
grees, they strove to penetrate into the sense 
of these fables and become worthy of the great 
manifestation of Light. 

The general division included the prepara- 
tions, the voyages and symbols, and Investiga- 



tions. The preparations were divided into 
two classes; the first had as symbolic title the 
word " Wisdom," and for its object morality. 
The initiated were called Thalmedimites or 
disciples. The second had as symbolic title 
the word " Strength," and for its object the 
humane sciences. The initiated were called 
Heberamites or companions. 

The voyages and symbols were divided into 
three classes: the first called the Obsequies, 
the initiated bore the name of Mouzehemites; 
in the second, called Vengeance, they took that 
of Bheremites; and in the third, called Eman- 
cipation, that of Nescherites. The Investiga- 
tion was the grand completion of the initiation, 
the crowning of the edifice, the Keystone of 
the arch. 

The Patriarchs of Memphis qualified in the 
occult science that they taught in this degree 
by the name of regenerating fire. This science, 
that an illustrious philosopher called a particle 
broken from a great palm tree — a ray of 
Adamic power, destined to confound human 
reason and to humble it before God — a phe- 
nomenon belonging to prophecy — this science 
(magnetism), principle of the life of all organic 
beings, was part of the teachings of the seventh 
degree. 

The knowledge of this magnetic fluid is the 



2 3 

most precious good work of Providence; it is 
the mysterious key which opens to the clouded 
intelligence the world of truth and light, and 
joins the finite to the infinite; it is the Golden 
Chain so often sung about by the poets; the 
basis of the hidden philosophy that De- 
mocrates, Pythagoras, Plato and Appolonius 
came to seek from the Hierophants of "Egypt, 
the Gymnosophists of India, invisible to the 
eyes of the senses; the sight of the Soul is 
necessary for its study. 

The initiation consisted of the dogma of 
Monotheism, which was declared to the great 
initiated; that is to say, there was but one God. 

The dogma of punishment and rewards in 
another life was professed in the smaller mys- 
teries. 

Pantheism was the religion of antiquity; the 
word pantheism comes from two Greek words 
one of which signifies all and the other God — 
that is to say, All is God. 

The mysteries of the Masonic Rite of Mem- 
phis, which, in its primitive time, began with 
seven degrees, has to-day ninety-seven; ninety 
degrees of science and five degrees of Councils 
(official), together with the 96 of the Grand 
Master, forming the governing body of the 
order. 

By the advancement of civilization and the 



24 

present state of our social manners and cus- 
toms it is impossible for a Masonic Rite, which 
in reality possesses the completion of the sci- 
ence of this sublime institution, to be consti- 
tuted in such manner that all its members, 
without exception, should have a complete 
knowledge of the Masonic secrets, yet in order 
to meet with the demands of our times the 
Rituals have been so rearranged that the 
actual working degrees have been reduced 
to one-third by combining the work of three 
drees into one working ritual. 



"Let every man be persuaded in his own mind." — Rom. 
xiv. 5. 



PRESENT HISTORY AND STATUS. 

The Ancient and Primitive Masonic Rite of 
Memphis was revived and introduced into 
Europe by the Most Illustrious Patriarch 
Ormus, Seraphic Priest of Alexandria, and 
brought into France by Brother Samuel Honis, 
a native of Cairo, Egypt, in the year 18 14, and 
the " Grand Body " met at Montauban, on the 
30th day of April, 181 5, under charge of Very 
Illustrious Brothers Honis, Marconis de Ne- 
gre, the Baron Dumas, Marquis de Laroque, 
Hypolite Labrunie, J. Pettitt, and others, and 
under the distinctive title of Disciples of Mem- 
phis, May 23d of the same year. Suspended 
labor on the 7th day of May, 181 6; the Ar- 
chives were confided to the care of Illustrious 
Brother Marconis de Negre, Grand Hiero- 
phant; work was recommenced at the Grand 
Lodge of Osiris, Disciples of Memphis, in 
Brussels, in the year 1838, and at the Valley 
of Paris; and on March 21, 1839, its three 
Supreme Councils were proclaimed and the 
Statutes published. But in 1841 the Grand 
25 



Master Hierophant, the Illustrious and En- 
lightened Brother Jacques Etienne Marconis 
de Negre, son and initiate of the first Grand 
Hierophant, was forced by civil politics to put 
all the Lodges in France asleep. In 1848 work 
was resumed at the Orient of Paris, and con- 
tinued to prosper, and in 1856 was firmly es- 
tablished in Egypt, America, Roumania, and 
other countries. 

Illustrious Brother Marconis de Negre, in 
person, established the first organization of the 
A. and P. Rite of Memphis in New York City, 
November 9, 1856, under the name and title of 
" A Supreme Council, Sublime Masters of the 
Great Work 90 ," and in i860 it included over 
one hundred Past Masters of the Blue Lodge 
under the rule of Illustrious Brother David 
MacClellan. 

In 1861, April the 27th, The Sow Grand 
Master, David MacClellan, being Major of the 
Seventy-ninth Regiment, National Guard State 
of New York, being ordered to the seat of war, 
resigned and appointed his successor in office, 
who on June 29th received from the Grand 
Hierophant a Charter, vised and sealed by the 
Grand Orient, for a Sovereign Sanctuary in 
and for the Continent of America, together 
with all the prerogatives, rights, and dignities 
thereunto belonging and attached. November 



2 7 

7, 1 862, the Sovereign Sanctuary held its first 
meeting. 

In 1862 the Illustrious Grand Master Hiero- 
phant united our rite with the Grand Orient of 
France, and the High Grades continued to be 
conferred by the recognized Grand Council of 
Rites of the Grand Orient, and Illustrious 
Grand Hierophant J. E. Marconis, 33 °. '.97°. '. 
which arranged the relative values of the de- 
grees of the A. P. Rite of Memphis with those 
of Mizraim, the Ancient and Accepted, and 
other rites recognized by said Grand Council 
of Rites. 

Upon this, in the year 1862, the Illustrious 
Grand Hierophant 33 °. '.97°.". acting in con- 
junction with Marshal Magnan 33°.'. the 
Grand Master of the Grand Orient, formally 
constituted the Sovereign Sanctuary in Amer- 
ica. Shortly thereafter the degrees of the rite 
were condensed to thirty ceremonies and three 
official grades without abolishing or abrogat- 
ing any of the original ninety-five degrees. 

The Grand Orient of France continued to 
exchange Representatives with the Sovereign 
Sanctuary in America, and lists thereof can 
be found in the French Official Calendar, until 
1869, when, in consequence of the invasion of 
American territory by the recognition of a 
spurious Supreme Council of the A. and A. 



28 

Scottish Rite, who worked the symbolic de- 
grees, the Sovereign Sanctuary of the Ancient 
and Primitive Rite of Memphis withdrew from 
representation.* 

May I, 1865, an official communication from 
the Grand Orient of France was received by the 
Sovereign Sanctuary A. P. Rite of Memphis, 
in and for the Continent of America, notifying 
that body of the appointment of his excellency, 
the Marshal Magnan, Grand Master of France, 
of M.-.W. -.Robert D. Holmes as Grand Rep- 
resentative of the Orient of France, near the 
Sovereign Sanctuary of America. 

From 1856 to 1899 the Ancient and Primi- 
tive Rite of Memphis has participated in 
various stages of progress and prosperity, ad- 
mitting many of the M. \W. -.Grand Masters 
of the Grand Lodge of New York and many 
of the most influential Masons of the day who 
were the recognized and leading authorities in 
the other Masonic Rites to its ranks, who be- 
came enthusiastic officers of the Chapters, 
Senates, Councils, Mystic Temples, and Sov- 
ereign Sanctuary of the Rite of Memphis. 

Alpha Grand Council, S. M. G. W. [43 °- 
90 ] No. 1; Samothrace Senate, Hermetic 
Philosophers [i9°-42°] ; Gramercy Rose Croix 
Chapter [i°-i8°], bear the proud distinction 

* See page 34 for withdrawal edict. 



2 9 

of continued activity from the year 1865 to 
date, 1899. 

In the year 1872 several Illustrious Breth- 
ren who had previously received the 95 °. \ ob- 
tained a Charter for the establishment of a 
Sovereign Sanctuary in and for Great Britain 
and Ireland, with the Illustrious Brother, John 
Yarker, 33. *95- *•? as Grand Master General; 
in the same year many brethren, members of 
the Royal Council of Ancient Rites, which met 
under the H. R. H. the Duke of Sussex, 
Grand Master. In 1874 the Jerusalem Chapter 
of Antiquity formally amalgamated with Pala- 
tine Chapter No. 2 and Senate No. 2 of the 
A. and P. Rite of Memphis, thus giving the 
rite the prestige of time immemorial associa- 
tion in the United Kingdom. 



" We should believe only in works ; words are sold for 
nothing everywhere." 



HISTORICAL LANDMARKS. 

Excerpts from the Constitutions, Statutes, and 
Ordinances of the Rite of Memphis, etc. 

" Whereas, the Ancient and Primitive Rite 
of Memphis on the Continent of America ac- 
knowledges the Blue Lodge as the foundation 
and fundamental basis of the beloved institu- 
tion to which the Masonic allegiance of all its 
members is due, and from which there can be 
no deviation; therefore no Mason can be al- 
lowed to join the Ancient and Primitive Rite 
of Freemasonry unless he is a member of a 
lodge in good standing, working under a 
Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons." 



" Sec. 7. — Any member of the Ancient and 
Primitive Rite of Memphis who shall be ex- 
pelled from the Master Masons' lodge to 
which he is attached, shall be declared ex- 
pelled from all bodies, of which he may be 
a member, belonging to the A. and P. Rite 
of Memphis. 

30 



3i 

" Sec. 8. — Any member of the A. and P. R. 
M. 3 who shall be suspended in his lodge for 
un-Masonic conduct, shall in like manner be 
declared suspended in all our bodies until regu- 
larly reinstated by action of his lodge, or of the 
Grand Lodge having jurisdiction in his case." 



" The Rite of Memphis orders its members 
to fraternize with members of all other rites. 
' Tolerance ' is written at the head of all its 
sacred laws. 

" Its members can affiliate with any other 
Masonic Rite without being excluded from 
their own. 

" Masonic charity and devotion being the 
duty of brothers, whosoever shall be convicted 
of having had projects or acts tending to lower 
the rite, or attack a brother's honor, can, by 
the very deed, be brought before the Commit- 
tee of Inquiry and expelled from the Order." 



" My brothers, may all the blessings of our 
rite be yours now and forever. Remember 
this — never condemn unheard. Examine, Re- 
flect, and Tolerate." 

" In our intercourse with the world, let us 
carefully guard ourselves against depreciating 



3 2 

any brother of the Order, no matter what his 
faults may be. Let no words of ill-will fall from 
our lips relating to the members of our rite. 
If, from motives of jealousy at our success and 
progress, they choose to be antagonistic to us, 
let all the aggressive acts be on their side; for 
if Masons disagree among themselves, and 
make their dissensions matters of public no- 
toriety, what opinion of us can we expect from 
the outer world, and how can it believe in our 
professions of Brotherly Love and Friend- 
ship? " 



" It shall be permissible and allowable for 
the officers of subordinate bodies, owing fealty 
to the Sovereign Sanctuary, to receive as vis- 
itors to the bodies under their charge Masons 
in good standing of other Rites, who shall be 
received in the degrees corresponding to those 
of their rite [special instructions and permis- 
sion, however, must first be obtained from the 
Sovereign Sanctuary] ." 



" Most Illustrious Sovereign Grand Master 
General: Your office is the highest Masonic 
dignity in the world. I present you with the 
Holy Book of Laws, which is your guide in 
Masonry. The Gavel in your hands is a vast 



33 

power, for with it in your grasp you will have 
to decide questions in the Sovereign Sanctuary 
that affect our Ancient and Primitive Rite, not 
only in this, but in every State upon this vast 
continent. I give into your keeping the Char- 
ter; guard it as sacredly as your Life or Honor, 
for it is the only legitimate Charter emanating 
from an authorized Masonic body to confer the 
higher Masonic degrees ever granted. By 
virtue of this Charter and your high ofhce you 
must be regarded as the fountain of authority 
governing the Ancient and Primitive Rite of 
Memphis on the Continent of America." 




Withdrawal from the Grand Orient of France. 

T. T. G. O. T. S. A. O. T. U. 

From the Orient of the Sovereign Sanctuary 
of Ancient and Primitive Freemasonry, Ac- 
cording to the Rite of Memphis in and for 
the Continent of America. Valley of New 
York, this 20th day of March, 1869. E. V. 
[Year of True Light 000,000,000]. 
To all Masons to whom these Presents shall 
Come, Greeting: 

The following resolutions having been 
adopted, all Masons of the A. P. R. M. are 
hereby ordered to abide by the same. 

To the Illustrious Sovereign Grand Master, 
Officers, and Members of the Sovereign Sanc- 
tuary of the A. P. R. M. in and for the Con- 
tinent of America: The committee appointed 
to take into consideration the matter of griev- 
ance in relation to the jurisdiction of Louisiana 
beg to report that, after careful consideration 
of the subject matter, your committee unani- 
mously present the following preamble for 
adoption. That, 

WHEREAS, A decree emanating from the 
Grand Orient of France, dated the fifth day of 
34 



November, 1868, in which is recognized and 
acknowledged a body of spurious Masons, lo- 
cated in the State of Louisiana, styled the 
" Supreme Council of the A. and A. Scottish 
Rite in and for the Sovereign State of Louisi- 
ana." That, 

WHEREAS, Said spurious body has from 
time to time clandestinely granted charters for 
lodges in said jurisdiction of Louisiana, there- 
by invading the authority of the M. W. Grand 
Lodge of that State. That, 

WHEREAS, The Ancient and Primitive 
Rite of Memphis has by its toleration extended 
into .nearly every State and Territory on this 
Continent, and in the said jurisdiction of 
Louisiana there now exists four bodies of our 
Rite who claim protection of this Sovereign 
Body. And, 

WHEREAS, The Rite of Memphis has al- 
ways acknowledged the Supremacy of the State 
Grand Lodges over the symbolic first three 
degrees of a Blue Lodge, and engrafted the 
same into its constitutions by the following 
section, viz., 

WHEREAS, The Rite of Memphis, on the 
Continent of America, considers the Blue 
Lodge the foundation and fundamental basis 
of our beloved institution, to which the Ma- 
sonic allegiance of all its members is due, and 



from which there can be no deviation; there- 
fore, no Mason can be allowed to join the 
Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis unless 
he is a member of a lodge in good standing 
working under a Grand Lodge of Free and Ac- 
cepted Masons. And, 

WHEREAS, The Officers and Brethren of 
the Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis 
deprecate the interference of any foreign body 
with the vested rights of Established Masonic 
Grand Bodies in America. Be it, therefore, 

RESOLVED, That we, the Sovereign 
Sanctuary of the Ancient and Primitive Rite of 
Memphis, in and for the Continent of America, 
in Council assembled, do hereby unanimously 
indorse the action of the Grand Lodge of 
Louisiana, as embodied in resolutions adopt- 
ed February 13th, 1869. Be it further 

RESOLVED, That until such time as the 
Grand Orient of France shall have revoked 
its action as decreed November 5th, 1868, all 
fraternal intercourse with that Grand Body be, 
and the same is, hereby suspended. 



ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION. 

Treaty between the Ancient and Primitive 
Rite of Masonry, or Oriental Order of Mem- 
phis, or of Egypt, in Great Britain and Ireland, 
in America, in Italy, Roumania, and ratified by 
their respective Sovereign Grand Masters. 

To the Glory of the Sublime Architect of the 
Universe, Salutation on all Points of the Tri- 
angle, Respect to the Order, Peace, Tolerance, 
Truth. 

To all Illustrious and Enlightened Masons 
throughout the world, Union, Prosperity, 
Friendship, Fraternity: Know Ye, the Most 
Illustrious Sovereign Grand Masters and 
Hierophants of the Ancient and Primitive Rite 
of Masonry in Great Britain and Ireland, in 
America, in Italy, Roumania, having judged 
it expedient in the interest of our beloved Rite 
that such regulations should be made between 
them, the High Contracting Parties, as may 
tend to unite more closely the Brethren of 
their several jurisdictions and to promote the 
interchange of courtesy and hospitality, have 
agreed to conclude a Treaty between the Sov- 
37 



38 

ereign Powers over which they respectively 
preside, and to promote such union have de- 
creed the following Articles, viz., 



The Treaty or Contracting Parties mutually 
agree to recognize one Supreme Sovereign 
Grand Master, Grand Hierophant and Honor- 
ary Grand Patron, who shall be ad vitam i 
the Most Illustrious Brother, General Giuseppe 
Garibaldi, 33°.:.97°.\ °f Italy, as successor to 
the Illustrious and Enlightened Brother, 
Jacques Et. Marconis, 33 . '.97°. \, Paris, 
France. 

II. 

All Illustrious Brethren visiting or joining 
Chapters, Senates or Councils in the jurisdic- 
tion of any of the Contracting Parties shall be 
received according to their rank at home, on an 
equal footing with those among whom they 
may respectively come, taking precedence ac- 
cording to their degree and amongst those of 
equal rank, according to the dates of their re- 
spective patents of creation. 

III. 

The Contracting Parties agree that none of 
them will issue any Charter, Warrant or Patent 



39 

authorizing the establishment of any Chapter, 
Senate or Council, or the reception of any 
member of the Rite within the jurisdiction of 
the other. 

IV. 

The Contracting Parties agree to render 
their Statutes, Ordinances, Forms, Rituals and 
other matters as homologous as the circum- 
stances and requirements of their several juris- 
dictions will admit. 

V. 

The Contracting Parties agree to fraternize, 
so far as relative circumstances will permit, with 
all friendly Rites, but to> hold no intercourse 
with or recognize any Masonic Body, Rite or 
Power within any foreign territory unless such 
Rite or Power maintains amicable relations 
with our Ancient and Primitive Rite of 
Masonry or Oriental Order of Memphis or of 
Egypt. 

VI. 

All judgments, decrees or sentences pro- 
nounced by the competent Supreme Authority 
in the Territory of the Contracting Parties shall 
be valid and executory in the other without fur- 
ther process, and no appeal, error or review 
shall lie against such judgment, decree or sen- 



4 o 

tences except in the Supreme Court of the 
country from which they emanated, save by 
special license and authority or delegation un- 
der hand and seal of the Sovereign Grand Mas- 
ter of such country, and in such case any judg- 
ment pronounced thereon shall be final. 

VII. 

The Contracting Parties further agree that 
all judicial acts done according to law by one 
of them shall be communicated to the other 
and thereupon published throughout the juris- 
diction of the same, and any act of contumacy 
punished by the authority of such country shall 
be regarded by the other as contumacy against 
its own judicial act. 

VIII. 

The Contracting Parties shall be at liberty 
to send reciprocally a Representative or Legate 
to be accredited to each other respectively, who 
shall receive all the honors due to his Repre- 
sentative position. 

IX. 

The Contracting Parties agree that all ad- 
vantages of this Treaty may hereafter be ex- 
tended to regular and legitimate Sovereign 
Powers of our Ancient and Primitive Rite of 



4i 

Masonry 95 °. :. in all States, Kingdoms or Em- 
pires not included herein. 

X. 

Any disputes or disagreements which may 
arise on any of these articles shall be referred 
to the mediation and decision of the Supreme 
Sovereign Grand Master under Article I. 

In witness whereof the above-named Grand 
Masters have hereunto set their hands and 
seals, on the date undernoted. 

We, the undersigned Grand Masters, ratify 
and confirm the foregoing ten articles accepted 
on the day and date undernoted. 

Signed JOHN YARKER, 33 °.: 9 o°.\ 9 6°.\ 

Sov. Gr. Master of Great Britain and Ireland. 

(SEAL.) 

Withington, England, Sept. 2, 1881. 
Signed ALEX. B. MOTT, 33V. 9 o°.\ 9 6°.\ 

M. I. Sov. Gr. Master in and for the 
Continent of America. 
(seal.) 
New York City, U. S. A., Sept. 14, 1881. 

Signed G. PESSINA, 33 .'. 9 o°.\ 9 6°.\ 

Sov. Gr. Master for Italy. 
(seal.) 
Napoli, Italy, Sept. 26, 1881. 

Signed C. M. MOROIU, 33 °.\ 9 6°.\ 

Gr. Master of Roumanian Masonry. 
(seal.) 

La Bucuresci, Roumania, Nov. 22, 1881. 




DECREES OF THE RITE OF MEMPHIS. 

The Masonic Rite of Memphis is composed 
of ninety degrees of science, divided for instruc- 
tion into three series. 

The First Series includes the first to the 
eighteenth degree — fourth to eleventh working 
ritual in the Chapter Rose Croix. It teaches 
morality, gives the explanation of symbols, dis- 
poses the beginners to philosophical research, 
and makes them understand the first part of 
history. 

The Second Series comprises from the nine- 
teenth to the forty-second degree — twelfth to 
twentieth working ritual of the Senate of Her- 
metic Philosophers. Teaches the natural sci- 
ences, the philosophy of history; it explains 
the political myths of antiquity. Its object 
is to stimulate to research of causes and 
42 



43 

origins, also to develop the humanitarian 
and sympathetic senses. 

The Third Series comprises the forty-third to 
the ninetieth degree — twenty-first to thirtieth 
working ritual of the Sublime Council, which 
makes known the completion of the historical 
portion of the Rite. It occupies itself with high 
philosophy; it studies the religious myths of 
the different ages of humanity and admits the 
most advanced theosophical labors. 

From the 91 ° to 97 ° are the official degrees. 
The first and second officers of Chapters, Sen- 
ates and Councils receive the 92 ° to 94 and 
represent the several bodies in the Mystic Tem- 
ple during their term of office. 

The third and fourth officers receive the 91 ° 
and are members of the Tribunal of Grand De- 
fenders of the Rite during their term of office, 
and the Grand Master of Light and Grand Ora- 
tor of the Mystic Temple receives the 95 ° to 
represent their State in the Sovereign Sanctu- 
ary, which is composed of the Sovereign Grand 
Conservators General of the Rite 95 °. The 
Grand Master alone is entitled to the 96 , and 
the Grand Hierophant, who is the head of the 
Rite all over the world, receives the 97 °. 



MASONIC CALENDAR. 

Everything leads us to believe that the East 
Indians and Chinese are the most ancient peo- 
ple of the world. The Indians make use of 
various designations of epochs of origin of the 
world. One is indicated by nine zeros — 
000,000,000 — which is the most philosophical 
manner of expressing it, since it is unknown. 

The following are some of the beliefs con- 
cerning the antiquity of the globe : 

Indians date back 4,320,000 years 

Japanese date back 2,000,000 years 

Chaldeans and the Magi of 

ancient Persia date back. . 150,000 years 

Phoenicians date back 36,000 years 

Egyptians date back 24,000 years 

The Era of Freemasons is dated in the 
following- manner, according to the various 
Rites in which they work : 

Masons all over the world working in the 
York and French Rite add 4,000 years to the 
Christian era, naming it the Anno Lucis (year 
4+ 



45 

of light), and begin the Masonic year on Janu- 
ary ist, but the French begin March ist. Thus 
the year 1899 would read A. \L. \ 5899. 

The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite use 
the Jewish Calendar, which adds 3,760 years to 
the vulgar era, and is termed Anno Mundi 
(year of the world), or Anno Hebraica (Hebrew 
year), which begins on the first day of the 
Hebrew month Tishri (September 17th), and 
reads A. \M. \ 5659, corresponding to 1899. 

The Rite of Mizraim adds four years to the 
computation used by the York Rite. 

Royal Arch Masons date their official docu- 
ments, etc., from the time of the building of the 
second Temple, 530 years before Christ. 

Knights Templar date from the organization 
of the Order, 11 18. 

The calendar used by the Ancient and Primi- 
tive Rite of Memphis, date Year of True Light, 
000,000,000, and 
March 2 ist answers to the 

Egyptian month TOTH. 

April PAOPHI. 

May ATHIR. 

June CHOCAC. 

July TIBI. 

August MECHIR. 

September SHAMENOTH. 



4 6 

October PHARMATHI. 

November PACHON. 

December PAGNI. 

January EPOPHI. 

February MESORI. 



"Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that 
faith let us to the end dare to do our duty as we understand 
it." — Abraham Lincoln. 



A MASONIC DUTY. 

BY 

MAURICE ARTHUR GOTTLIEB, 33V. 95V. 

Decorated with the Legionary Orders of the Rite of Memphis; 
Sovereign Grand Conservator-General, A. P. R. M 93°.'. ; Deptity 
Grand Representative of the M. I. Grand Blaster-General 
and Sovereign Sanctuary of the Rite of Memphis to 
Foreign Countries ; Sovereign Grand Inspector-Gen- 
eral, 33d and Last Degree, Ancient and Accepted 
Scottish Rite, Etc. 

To the student of political and practical 
economy the past is regarded as a storehouse 
of knowledge ; the experiences of others are as 
beacon lights guiding to prosperity or warn- 
ing of disaster. We should, therefore, profit 
by the great works of our Forefathers and ever 
bear in mind our duty to the world, our Brother 
and ourselves. Though our Brother should sin 
seven times or seventy times seven, still it re- 
mains our duty not only to forgive, but to labor 
earnestly for his reformation, to pray for his re- 
demption, to closely shut within our breast the 
knowledge of his weakness, to assiduously sup- 
port his efforts towards perfection, to warn him 
against temptation and encourage him in his 



48 

journey for the attainment of Light and Truth. 
Our promise and bond as men and Masons is a 
mutual one, for each must agree with the other 
or there can be no bond; and each being bound 
to the other and in the same, become equal in 
all. For only so the Master's Work shall pros- 
per, the Craft dwell in peace and harmony and 
the welfare of our Brother be considered 
equally with our own. How much more, then, 
when the only question between Brethren is a 
difference of opinion only, should our Masonic 
teachings be remembered and practiced. 

The motto inscribed on the banner of our 
beloved Rite is "Peace, Tolerance, Truth," and 
it is hoped that such ideal teachings and pre- 
cepts will prove a means to attract the zealous 
Mason to strengthen the bonds of Union and 
Fraternity among the great Brotherhood; and 
that the foregoing history of the Ancient and 
Primitive Rite of Memphis, so forcibly nar- 
rated, will incite every truth-loving Mason to 
advancement in the mysteries, encourage the 
faint-hearted and weary, make steadfast the 
wavering, guide and direct the earnest seeker 
for light and truth to that golden haven, the 
depository of complete Masonic secrets — the 
Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis. 



WW 1 



1899 



